BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox produced the 10th biggest haul by a spinner in a One Day International (ODI) bilateral series between two international sides in their just concluded five-match series against the West Indies.
Playing in just his third bilateral ODI series, the 31-year-old Lennox finished with 14 wickets at an average of 13.60, surpassing the performances of spinning greats Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Shahid Afridi, and ties the 14 that Sri Lanka Akila Dananjaya mustered at home against South Africa in 2018.
That record is held by Amit Mishra of India, who claimed 18 scalps against Zimbabwe in 2013.
Speaking about his feat, Lennox, who was named Player-of-the-Series, described the series as a great learning experience.
“It’s been a lot of fun. Playing on pitches that are pretty spin-conducive has been a great learning experience for me.
“These bilateral series are all about learning and gaining experience in foreign conditions, so I’ll certainly go home with my pockets full of knowledge,” Lennox said.
“I think it’s just about the subtleties of the craft. (New Zealand captain) Mitch Santner has been doing it for a long time now, so to be able to be here, watch what he’s doing, see how he’s operating, and use some of his tricks and subtle variations is what it’s all about when you come and play on these surfaces.”
(CMC)
